Bengaluru: Following incidents of eggs being hurled at Congress leader Siddaramaiah's car and black flags waved at him during his visit to Kodagu, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he has personally spoken to the Leader of Opposition in the State and assured him of adequate security and a thorough probe.
Earlier in the day, alleging that those who pelted his car with eggs were from "an organisation which Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse belonged to", Siddaramaiah, who termed the incident as "State-sponsored", wondered whether such people would spare him.
This even as activists of Hindu organisations and the BJP continued their protests against the former Chief Minister for his "Muslim area" remark and comments against Hindutva icon V D Savarkar for the second day today, and there were reports of black flag being shown to him during his visit to Chikkamagaluru today.
"I spoke to Siddaramanna (Siddaramaiah) after seeing some media reports on threats to his life. I have given him assurance that we have taken them very seriously and get them thoroughly investigated," Bommai said. Speaking to reporters here, he said he has spoken to Director General of Police about law and order.
"No one should take law into their hands on this matter. It is happening from both sides.
No one should make statements that incite others and take law into their hands. I have asked the DGP to give instructions to all SPs (Superintendent of Police) in this regard, and to give adequate security or additional security to the Leader of Opposition in the backdrop of the recent developments," he added.
The Chief Minister further said he has personally spoken to the senior Congress leader, and has asked him to share details in case he or his staff received threatening calls, along with the assurance that he would get them seriously inquired into. Bommai was responding to concerns expressed by Siddaramaiah's son and MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah about his father's security.
Also read:Karnataka Cong to protest against egg attack on Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, blaming the BJP for creating communal tension in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga on August 15, had raised questions on attempts to install Savarkar's photo in a Muslim-dominated area. "They tried to put Savarkar's photo in a Muslim area. Let them put up whatever photo, no problem. But, why do that in a Muslim area? And, why did they say 'no' to Tipu Sultan's photo?" he had said.
Following the remarks, activists of the Hindu organisations and the BJP had begun protests against Siddaramaiah, and there were instances of eggs being hurled at his car and black flags waved during his visit to Kodagu on Thursday. "Yesterday's was a State-sponsored protest...can't we do it (protest) holding black flags? Can't our workers do it for the Chief Minister of Ministers? It was an act of cowardice, they have done it when I had gone to assess rain-related damage and hear the farmers out," Siddaramaiah said today.